Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Kingman Fire Department provides paramedic-level pre-hospital care also known as Advanced Life Support (ALS). All stations are staffed by a paramedic as well as basic emergency medical technician (EMT). All personnel are subject to rigorous continuing education as well as quality control measures to ensure high levels of skill and competency. Skills and capabilities of our personnel include advanced cardiac life support, which encompasses 12- lead monitoring, cardio version, defibrillation, IV therapy, and the administration of life saving medications. The minimum level of certification for all personnel including paid on call personnel is CPR certification and basic EMT.

Over the years Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has evolved into a multi-dimensional system composed of many community stakeholders and agencies in order to deliver a proven “chain of survival” that directly impacts positive patient outcomes and quality of life. Some typical concerns from voters and citizens revolve around the question as to why a big red fire truck pulls up to their home on a medical call after calling 911. The answer is simple in that, in general, communities have a larger percentage of medical emergencies vs. other types of emergencies. Upwards of 80% is the national norm as a fire department’s call volume or in this case, demand for essential services from its’ citizens. Consider how many hands are caring for a patient having a heart attack in any given emergency room in this country at any given time. The man power to effectively manage all tasks simultaneously when caring for a patient having a life threatening medical emergency is just as important as the positive outcome for that patient. Locally, collaborative relationships between the hospital, fire department, and private ambulance company (AMR) coupled with the technological advances in cardiac monitoring and 12 lead transmission capabilities, has had substantial impacts on survivability with heart attack patients. Having the capability to transmit electrocardiographic readings directly to KRMC’s emergency room automatically begins a time sensitive chain of events. Early activation of the hospital’s CATH lab promotes a streamlined positive outcome for patient’s suffering an active heart attack. National standards for a patient to make it onto an operating table in a CATH lab is 90 minutes from when a patient comes through the doors of an Emergency Room. Locally, last year’s data shows that if a patient was brought into the hospital via EMS their door to balloon time on average was 62 minutes. In contrast if a patient was brought into the hospital by personal vehicle then that patient’s time dramatically increases to an average of 97 minutes and higher time averages correlates to poorer patient outcomes. All of this is due to the successful efforts, collaborative relationships, continued training and education, and cutting edge technology working together in a team approach. Looking forward, the Kingman Fire Department and the EMS division are looking at national trends, Federal regulatory pressures, and current community needs in order to develop new programs and methods to better serve Kingman. Two beneficial programs in current development include the addition of a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) program and the implementation of a Community Paramedicine program. Both programs would greatly impact quality of life for patients, reduce hospital re-admission rates, and reduce operational expenditures for the City of Kingman.